On July 5, 1986, a Piper PA-23-150 (registration N1130P) was involved in an aviation accident near Iowa City, IA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The student pilot's improper execution of the engine-out drill by reducing power on the operating engine, which led to a hard landing during the training maneuver. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a simulated engine failure training exercise, a student pilot mistakenly reduced power on the operating engine, resulting in a hard landing back on the runway.
What happened
A flight instructor was conducting a training session focused on multi-engine procedures. The planned objective of the lesson was to practice an engine-out drill immediately after takeoff. The procedure required the pilot to reduce power on one of the engines to simulate a failure.
During the execution of this drill, a critical error occurred. Instead of reducing power on the simulated failed starboard engine, the student pilot mistakenly reduced power on the operating engine. This action caused a significant loss of thrust while the aircraft was still in the takeoff phase. The aircraft descended rapidly and impacted the runway surface with excessive force.
The impact resulted in a hard landing back on the runway. The flight instructor did not have sufficient time to intervene or take remedial action before the aircraft struck the ground.
Probable cause
The student pilot's improper execution of the engine-out drill by reducing power on the operating engine, which led to a hard landing during the training maneuver.